High Martial Arts: Grinding for the Supreme Talent

Chapter 207: Chapter 207: Making History

In the Azure Sky First Institute’s spectator section, Huo Wanyang’s figure reappeared in his seat from a crimson pillar of light.

His expression was dazed. He was still immersed in the battle, unable to pull himself out.

He looked down at his own hands, at his broad palms, the veins on his wrists standing out.

’I actually lost?!’

In a head-on clash, he had lost to Lin Qi. There were no restrictions, both of them were in their strongest state, and yet he still lost.

’How is this possible?’

He, Huo Wanyang, had been number one his entire life, easily defeating his peers.

He had always been the strongest. He even looked down on Wei Peng, who had surpassed him in the college entrance exams.

His father had said he was like Lv Bu reborn in this Martial Arts Era.

His targets had never been ordinary geniuses, but rather the ones who had awakened Special Abilities.

According to his plan, he was supposed to win the freshman tournament, defeat the geniuses from the three top academies, and finally surpass the group of geniuses with awakened Special Abilities in the Tenth Institute.

But now, everything was gone.

He had lost to Lin Qi!

”Boss Huo, are you okay?” a pretty girl next to him asked with concern.

Huo Wanyang waved his hand dismissively. His face was extremely grim as the cheers from the crowd grew louder.

However, their Azure Sky First Institute was unnaturally quiet, its members looking completely deflated.

All because their Dean had lost. An intense feeling of resentment and bitterness surged uncontrollably from their hearts.

...

[Finals: Lin Qi (Sixth Institute) Wins!]

Above the arena, an AI voice announced the final result.

At that moment, Vice-Principal Xu Wenji’s projection also appeared in the sky, announcing loudly:

”Let us congratulate Dean Lin Qi from the Azure Sky Sixth Institute! Congratulations to him for successfully defeating contestant Huo Wanyang and winning the championship of the freshman tournament’s individual competition!!”

In the arena, Lin Qi did not return to the spectator stands.

Instead, he basked in the applause of the entire audience.

A trophy, solid gold and radiating a dazzling golden light, materialized out of thin air and landed in his hands.

CLAP! CLAP! CLAP!

The spectator stands were silent for a moment.

After Xu Wenji’s announcement, thunderous applause instantly erupted.

Especially in the Azure Sky Sixth Institute’s section, countless people leaped to their feet to celebrate.

The people from the other institutes were also gasping in shock and amazement.

”My god!!”

”Lin Qi actually beat Huo Wanyang!”

”Huo Wanyang was so strong, he steamrolled everyone he fought. Who would’ve believed he couldn’t beat Lin Qi?”

”Is he making history?”

”In the history of Azure Sky Martial Arts Academy, has anyone ranked 10th in the entrance exams ever defeated someone in the top three?” someone exclaimed in amazement.

”Huo Wanyang was already strong enough, but Lin Qi turned out to be even more ridiculously overpowered.”

Countless spectators were amazed. No one had expected that in the end, it would be Lin Qi who defeated the crowd favorite, Huo Wanyang, to take the championship.

In the spectator section for the Azure Sky Ninth Institute, the fine-featured Ao Feng couldn’t help but clap and say:

”What a spectacular match. Who would’ve thought even Huo Wanyang would lose.”

”For some reason, I feel a lot better now.”

”There’s no shame in losing to the champion.”

He marveled internally, ’Lin Qi is ridiculously strong. To think he could win even this.’

...

In the Azure Sky Second Institute’s section, Duan Chuchu also couldn’t help but stand and applaud, a strange light seeming to flash in her eyes.

”So strong... he actually beat Huo Wanyang.”

”How on earth did he do it?”

As someone who had been eliminated by Huo Wanyang, Duan Chuchu knew all too well how powerful he was.

But he still lost, and to Lin Qi, no less.

”Just how incredible is Lin Qi?”

...

In the Azure Sky Third Institute’s spectator section, Ruan Qian’s eyes widened as she said:

”Sister, am I seeing things?”

”Lin Qi actually won?”

”He actually beat Huo Wanyang?”

The more she spoke, the more excited she became, her gaze toward Lin Qi filled with admiration.

Ruan Yu also exclaimed in amazement, ”He really won!”

...

In the leaders’ viewing area, the face of the First Institute’s Vice-Dean, the refined Wu Yueze, instantly turned ashen.

He couldn’t even hide his foul mood in front of everyone.

’Huo Wanyang actually lost?!’

The genius he had personally selected had actually lost to the tenth-ranked person in the country.

Their First Institute was supposed to rise under Huo Wanyang’s leadership, but he had lost.

He simply couldn’t accept such an outcome.

The beautiful woman in purple from the Azure Sky Ninth Institute smiled when she saw Wu Yueze’s expression.

But then she remembered that Lin Qi was only ranked tenth, and suddenly she didn’t feel so happy anymore.

”Old Liu, congratulations! You truly have an eye for talent!”

”To think you discovered a pearl like Lin Qi before the entrance exams. We’ve all been proven wrong,” said the leader from the Azure Sky Third Institute, shaking his head.

The others also sighed internally. Who could have imagined that Liu Jing had actually unearthed a top-level genius?

One who defeated a top-three genius in the country, no less.

”I just got lucky and won a gamble, that’s all.”

Dean Liu said humbly, still chuckling.

But beneath his robes, his fists were already clenched, his heart pounding with excitement.

’He really won!’

He had never imagined such a result. Not only had Lin Qi exceeded his mission...

He had actually beaten Huo Wanyang and become the champion, the number one among all the freshmen.

’This kid, Lin Qi, is a monster. Perhaps only those geniuses who have awakened Special Abilities can keep him in check.’

...

At this moment, in a corner of the spectator stands, two men and a woman were also watching the match.

One of the handsome men spoke up, ”I have to say, both Huo Wanyang and Lin Qi are very impressive.”

”What, you want to go up there and fight them?” the woman joked.

The man shook his head. ”Forget it. Even without using my Special Ability, they’re no match for me.”

”I’m already a Third Realm Martial Artist, and my Saber Technique is about to break through to Tier Three.”

”Going up there would just be bullying them.”

”We’re all S-class geniuses, but at best, they’re like AA-level. Without an awakened Special Ability, there’s a fundamental difference.”

At this point, the other man also spoke: ”They’ll only be able to compare to us if they awaken Special Abilities of their own.”

After the man finished speaking, the three of them, feeling bored, chose to log off, disappearing as if they had never been there.

...

The freshman tournament’s individual competition came to a close.

Xu Wenji gave Lin Qi an appreciative look before his projection dissipated into the Void.

Meanwhile, in the Azure Sky Sixth Institute’s section, Lin Qi reappeared in his seat.

”Brother Qi!!”

A crowd immediately surrounded him. Jiangtao threw an arm around Lin Qi and laughed heartily.

”I knew it! I knew from the very beginning that Brother Qi would take the championship.”

”I ask you, who else?!”

The others were also incredibly excited. When Jiangtao said Lin Qi could win the championship, they had all just thought he was joking.

But he actually won.

Lin Qi waved his hand, his expression calm. ”It’s nothing to get excited about.”

”I just beat Huo Wanyang, that’s all.”

Everyone silently roasted him. ’Lin Qi was humble-bragging again.’

Who was Huo Wanyang? Before the entrance exams, he had always been number one in the country.

He was practically the strongest among the millions of Martial Arts Students in their year.

By defeating him, Lin Qi could definitively claim the title of number one freshman in all of Xia Country.

...

「A few minutes later」

Lin Qi slowly stepped out of the Virtual Cabin and spoke to the blue-robed Little Chan floating in the air:

”Little Chan, order me a Level 3 Nutritional Meal!”

”Right away, Master!”

While waiting for his lunch, Lin Qi sat cross-legged on the floor.

His gaze locked onto his status panel.

[Through your battle with Huo Wanyang, your mastery of Spear Technique has increased. Spear Technique +3%]

[Spear Technique: Tier Two 82% → 85%]

...

’Fighting against a master really does improve one’s Martial Arts.’

Lin Qi recalled the battle. He had to admit that Huo Wanyang’s strength was indeed formidable.

His immense strength and Fist Power definitely exceeded 3,000 kilograms, not far off from his own.

His fighting style was fierce and domineering. Clashing with him head-on was exhilarating.

But in the end, Huo Wanyang still fell by his hand.

’It was even easier than I imagined. The situation never reached a Desperate Realm.’

Lin Qi thought to himself. Before, in the Red Realm, when facing many top-level geniuses, he was always forced into a Desperate Realm, fighting for a slim chance of survival to pull off a counter-kill.

But now, things were completely different.

This time, he had decisively defeated Huo Wanyang fair and square.

It was a world away from his previous struggles.

’Next, it’s time for me to find new opponents,’ Lin Qi thought, clenching his fist.

...

「A few minutes later, in the spacious living room」

Lin Qi was eating his nutritional meal, a green screen projected in front of him.

On the other side of the screen, Dean Liu’s face appeared.

”Lin Qi, you’ve exceeded all of our expectations.”

”On behalf of the students of the Azure Sky Sixth Institute, I want to express my gratitude,” Dean Liu said with sincerity.

Lin Qi let out a breath and smiled. ”Dean, there’s no need to thank me.”

”It was my duty.”

”Considering the effort you put into recruiting me, everything today was worth it.”

”Exactly!” Dean Liu smiled at Lin Qi.

”By the way, Lin Qi, you should prepare yourself to receive your rewards.”

”You should also be breaking through to the Third Realm of Skin Refining soon. Come find me in my office in two days. I have something that might be able to help you,” Dean Liu instructed.

”Okay!”

After hanging up the video call, Lin Qi was a little curious. ’What could possibly help me break through to become a Third Realm Skin Refining Martial Artist?’

「The time was now five in the afternoon.」

Although the freshman tournament was over, classes still had to continue.

As Lin Qi headed to class, he realized he had underestimated the prestige that came with winning the championship.

Walking on the path, not only did freshmen greet him enthusiastically, but some even asked to take photos with him.

Even the upperclassmen had become very friendly.

”Brother Qi, you’re famous throughout the entire Azure Sky Martial Arts Academy now.”

”The whole school knows you defeated the country’s second-ranked student, Huo Wanyang, to win the championship.”

On the way back after leaving the academic building, Jiangtao burst into laughter.

”Now that you’ve won the championship, Brother Qi, I’m just waiting for that guy to go streaking.”

Jiangtao projected another screen, showing the post on the Azure Sky Forum about the streaking bet.

Looking at it now, it had blown up again.

In the comments below, everyone was waiting for him to streak.

Seeing everyone’s eager comments, Lin Qi was also curious whether the person would actually go through with it.

「A few minutes later」

BEEP! BEEP!

Lin Qi returned to his private villa and entered the Martial Arts Room.

”Master, you have four messages!”

The blue-robed Little Chan appeared as a projection to remind him, simultaneously projecting four screens.

Lin Qi immediately began to check them. His eyebrow twitched—all of his rewards had arrived.

...